A parallel to this theory is in Matthew 13:47 where Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a dragnet which, when thrown into the sea, gathers fish “of every kind” indicating the universality of the Christian mission.ĪGAPE BIBLE STUDY – The enormous quantity of fish in verses 7-8 is symbolic of the abundance of God’s blessings and prefigures the abundant harvest of souls these “fishers of men” will bring into the New Covenant Church, symbolized by Peter’s boat. Jerome noted that Greek zoologists had determined that there were 153 kinds of fish in the Sea of Galilee, which he felt was symbolic of all the different tribes of the earth being brought back into God’s covenant family. Most scholars recognize that the fish are symbolic of the souls harvested by the Church for Christ. Will that happen to these disciples? Will they return to ministry? Jesus intervenes to insure that they will not be lost permanently to their old ways.ĪGAPE BIBLE STUDY – Much ink has been spilled by scholars in the attempt to answer the question concerning the symbolic significance of Peter hauling ashore the net full of this specific number of 153 fish. Immersed in what is familiar, people sometimes fail to do other essential tasks. Very natural! And yet, there is danger here too. He and the other disciples take up their nets, row their boats, and look for fish. We should expect him to grow restless when not working and to welcome the busyness of boat and nets. Peter is a fisherman, accustomed to the busy, physically demanding life of the sea. SERMON WRITER – When people do not know what to do, they do what they know-turn to the comfort of familiar activity. This knowledge is what called them in faith and obedience to return to the Galilee to meet with Jesus where He first called them to discipleship. On Resurrection Sunday, He effused them with His spirit (Jn 20:22), gave the gift of His power and authority to forgive or bind sin (Jn 20:23), and He opened their minds and hearts to the prophetic passages of the Old Testament (Lk 24:44-49). However, they must have known not only because of the miracle of the Resurrection event but from the knowledge they received through Jesus’ visitations and the spiritual gifts He gave them. ![]() ![]() They suggest that the Apostles were returning to their old way of life, apparently unaware of what Jesus’ commission meant when He spoke to them in the Upper Room on Resurrection Sunday. This Gospel never names this disciple, and many scholars believe him to be the author of this Gospel.ĪGAPE BIBLE STUDY – Some scholars interpret the action of returning to their old occupation as an indication that these men were abandoning the path they had taken on the shores of this same lake almost three years earlier. One of these is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (v. The sons of Zebedee are mentioned frequently in the Synoptics, but only here in the Gospel of John.Nathanael is mentioned only in this Gospel, and is best known for doubting that anything good could come out of Nazareth (1:46)-but after meeting Jesus Nathanael confessed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel” (1:49).Thomas is famous for doubting the resurrection (20:25), but when Jesus appears to him Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (20:28).He has been deeply flawed, but becomes a different man after the resurrection. ![]()
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